The geeks represent, for me, one of the most encouraging recent developments in British public life. In towns and cities up and down the country, groups are being formed of scientists and others who meet (often in a pub) and discuss ideas, policy, books and campaigns. Broadly, the impulse is to bring the scientific method to bear on national debates — a method that has been lacking.

What I desperately want is a move toward an evidence-based culture in politics. Politicians are free to say: “I think people on drugs should be punished because drugs are immoral.” That’s a moral call, albeit a rather stupid one in my opinion. What they shouldn’t do is say: “I want to reduce drug use, and sending all users to prison is the most cost-effective way to achieve that.” That’s not at moral call, it’s a factual statement; as such it should be evidence-based, or else the person making it should shut the hell up.

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About markgfh

Mark Henderson is Head of Communications at the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health by supporting the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Geek Manifesto contains his personal views, not those of the Wellcome Trust.
Before joining the Trust in January 2012, Mark was Science Editor of The Times, where he built a reputation as one of Britain's foremost science journalists and commentators.
Mark's first book, 50 Genetics Ideas You Really Need to Know, was published in 2009 by Quercus